What we felt in Tokyo on Friday 11th March was of course nothing compared to what happened 260 km north east of here. But still, the earth shook. Shelves emptied their contents onto the floor. And the tremors have not yet subsided.
It feels to me like the earth crying out for attention, demanding that we wake up and listen, in whatever way we can, to the all of which we are a part: to nature, to the people around us, to our own bodies and intuition.
After the 11th, it became an addiction to follow the news, to find out the latest developments, hear the opinions of journalists and inform myself of the risks of further earthquake, tsunami, nuclear leaks, in order to decide whether to stay or leave. But I hit a point where the news felt disempowering. It made me feel helpless. I had become dependent on others for information and opinion. And so I tried to connect with my own knowing. For me, that means stopping to look at the water in the river each time I pass; turning to the sky and trees to sense what is happening. Most especially, I close my eyes and turn my attention to the sensations and images I find there. And this way, I feel more able to make decisions that flow from strength and connectedness, not fear and panic.
Whatever your way – here’s to Listening!
– Tania Coke, Tokyo
